In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Isabelle Perna, Global & Paris Head of Admissions & Recruitment for the MBA in International Management at ESCP Business School.
Isabelle has been working at ESCP for more than 30 years and has led Recruitment & Admissions for the MBA Programme for the past seven years. With over 30 years of experience in higher education, she has played a key role in attracting and selecting talented professionals from around the world. Passionate about helping candidates find the right fit, Isabelle is known for her personalised approach and deep understanding of ESCP’s MBA experience.
Our conversation touched on ESCP’s ranking and recognition among European business schools, trends in the applicant pool and career options, and what to expect from the admissions process.
CA: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Isabelle Perna: One aspect we wish applicants knew more about is just how flexible, experiential, and truly international the ESCP MBA is. It’s a programme designed for experienced professionals seeking international career acceleration – the programme combines academic excellence with the ability to customise the MBA journey around career ambitions and personal circumstances.
Students can study across up to three of ESCP’s European campuses, gaining first-hand exposure to different business environments and cultures while building an international network. The programme can be completed in an accelerated 12-month format and offers the flexibility to study either fully on campus or in a hybrid format, making it easier to balance professional and personal commitments.
Beyond the classroom, learning is highly practical. Students work on two real consulting projects with companies, applying their knowledge to solve real business challenges while strengthening their leadership and problem-solving skills. They can also tailor their MBA through four career-focused specialisations, allowing them to develop expertise aligned with their professional goals.
What truly sets the ESCP MBA apart is the personalised support students receive throughout their journey.
Career Services are fully integrated into the programme – our International Leadership Advancement Programme (I-LEAP) provides a strong frame-work for one-to-one career coaching, mentoring, self-assessment, and networking opportunities with leading employers and ESCP’s global alumni community. Combined with our intentionally human-sized cohorts, this creates a collaborative learning environment where every student receives individual attention and becomes part of a close-knit community committed to supporting one another and giving back long after graduation.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
IP: Even before an application is submitted, we encourage applicants to connect with one of our Recruitment & Admissions Officers for a personalised consultation. These conversations help applicants assess whether the ESCP MBA aligns with their career aspirations and ensure they receive tailored guidance on their profile before applying.
Applications are managed across our five European campuses – Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, and Turin – with each campus responsible for a specific geographical region. This structure enables our Admissions Team to evaluate applicants within the academic and professional context of their country or region, ensuring a fair and holistic assessment.
Once an application is submitted, it undergoes a comprehensive review by the Admissions Team. We consider the candidate’s academic background, professional experience, leadership potential, international mindset, career goals, and overall fit with the programme before deciding whether to invite them to interview.
Applicants who are shortlisted are matched with two or three experienced interviewers selected to best assess their profile. Interviews are conducted either on campus or online, depending on the candidate’s location, and applicants receive all the necessary details in advance, including a preparation guide to help them approach the conversation with confidence.
Following the interview, the Admissions Committee reviews the interviewers’ evaluations alongside the complete application before reaching a final decision. Applicants are then notified by email and receive an official decision letter. Those who are admitted are provided with detailed guidance on the enrolment process and the next steps to prepare for joining the programme. While timelines vary slightly by application round, we aim to communicate admissions decisions within three weeks of the application deadline for each round. Throughout the process, we keep applicants informed with clear, timely communication at every stage.
CA: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
IP: The essays are a critical part of the admissions process because they help us understand the person behind the application. Beyond academic and professional achievements, they give us insight into who the candidate is, why they are applying to ESCP, how they will contribute to the cohort and the wider School community, and how the MBA will help them achieve their career aspirations.
My advice is to stay focused on the question being asked. The most impactful essays are often concise, thoughtful, and authentic. We encourage applicants to write in their own voice rather than trying to present the version of themselves they think the Admissions Committee wants to see.
The essays offer applicants an opportunity to distinguish themselves beyond the facts already presented elsewhere in the application. They should avoid generic statements and instead provide specific examples and personal reflections that clearly answer the question and demonstrate what makes them unique.
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately what percentage of applicants are invited to interview, who typically conducts interviews, and what should candidates expect in terms of interview style and format?
IP: The interviews are conducted by a specialized jury consisting of the MBA Programme Director, the MBA Associate Dean, a professor and/or an alum of the programme.
They are an opportunity for the jury to get to know the candidate better. Going beyond the application file, they can learn more about the candidate’s personality, aspirations and expectations. The jury members will assess the candidate’s potential and how the MBA programme will best equip them to achieve the desired career progression/transition.
Through the candidate’s answers, the jury members assess their fit in the programme and the school, as well as their soft skills, motivation, suitability as a student, ability to engage with their colleagues and ability to become an effective ambassador.
Like the essays, this is a great opportunity for the candidate to highlight their values, achievements, areas of improvement, desired progression and fit with the programme. We always value and appreciate it when applicants ask thoughtful questions about the programme.
Considering the diversity of regions and countries of our MBA applicants, many of our interviews are conducted virtually. That being said, we give applicants and interviewers the option to undertake the interview online or in person. We favour face-to-face encounters when possible, as we believe that live meetings are more engaging and both parties can make the most out of them.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
IP: One point that international applicants sometimes overlook is that, while they are applying to a diverse MBA programme, their application is also evaluated within the context of their local academic and professional environment. Because admissions are managed across our five European campuses, each responsible for specific geographical regions, we assess applicants with an understanding of the opportunities and context in their home market.This means that it’s not only about how you stand out among the global applicant pool, but also how you distinguish yourself among other talented applicants from your own country or region. We encourage applicants to clearly articulate the impact they have made, the progression they have achieved, and what makes their professional journey and leadership potential unique within their own context.
Finally, we encourage international applicants to plan ahead. Applying early allows sufficient time to prepare supporting documents, complete any testing requirements, and, if admitted, make arrangements for visas and relocation. A little advance planning can make the transition to studying and living in Europe much smoother.
CA: Conversations about MBA value often center on jobs, salaries, and ROI. What are some of the other ways students benefit from the MBA experience that may be harder to quantify upfront?
IP: While career progression and ROI are important outcomes of an MBA, many of the programme’s greatest benefits are those that are harder to quantify. When we recently asked our students what had stayed with them most from their MBA experience, one word came up repeatedly: transformation. At the heart of that transformation is significant personal growth that comes from learning alongside a highly diverse cohort of experienced professionals from around the world. Students broaden their perspectives, challenge their assumptions, and develop the cultural intelligence and adaptability needed to lead in an international environment.
The programme’s experiential learning also plays a significant role. Through two Company Consultancy Projects, the International Business Simulation Seminar, and collaborative team-based learning, students develop practical leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while working with peers from different professional and cultural backgrounds. These experiences build confidence and resilience in ways that extend well beyond the classroom.
Equally valuable are the lifelong relationships students build. With intentionally human-sized cohorts, personalised career coaching and mentoring via I-LEAP , and access to ESCP’s multi-campus European ecosystem, students become part of a close-knit community of peers, alumni, faculty, and industry partners that continues to support them throughout their careers.
CA: Are there any trends in the applicant pool, admissions process, or MBA experience that you are particularly focused on right now?
IP: One of the most significant trends we are seeing is that applicants are looking for greater flexibility and a more personalised MBA experience. They want a programme that can adapt to their professional and personal circumstances while still delivering a highly immersive and international learning journey. This is reflected in the ESCP MBA through our flexible on-campus and hybrid formats, the opportunity to study across multiple European campuses, and the ability to tailor the programme through career-focused specialisations.
We are also seeing growing interest in responsible leadership, sustainability, and the impact of artificial intelligence on business. As a result, these themes are embedded across the curriculum rather than taught in isolation. Students are encouraged to understand not only how emerging technologies and ESG issues are transforming organisations, but also how to lead responsibly in an increasingly complex global environment.
Finally, while AI is undoubtedly reshaping the business landscape, we believe it reinforces – not replaces – the importance of distinctly human skills. Employers continue to value leaders who can think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate across cultures, and make sound ethical decisions. These are the capabilities we continue to cultivate throughout the ESCP MBA, ensuring our graduates are prepared to lead with both confidence and responsibility in an AI-enabled world.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
IP: The ESCP MBA is committed to developing responsible, globally minded leaders, with sustainability embedded throughout the programme rather than treated as a standalone topic. This commitment is reflected in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2026, where the ESCP MBA ranks 8th in Europe and the programme is also recognised as:
#1 globally for International Course Experience
#4 worldwide for ESG and Net Zero Teaching, and
#5 for Value for Money
highlighting the strength of its international learning model and its commitment to delivering long-term career impact.
In line with ESCP’s mission, the programme takes a holistic approach to sustainability by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across the curriculum. This extends beyond environmental sustainability to include topics such as diversity, inclusion, social impact, ethical leadership, and responsible digital transformation. From the induction seminar and core courses to the sustainability-focused Company Consultancy Project in Period 1 and the specialisation modules, students are encouraged to consider the wider impact of business decisions on organisations, society, and the planet.
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence are similarly embedded across the curriculum, equipping students to leverage emerging technologies responsibly while understanding their broader business and societal implications.
Entrepreneurship is another important pillar of the ESCP MBA. Whether students aspire to launch their own venture, drive innovation within an existing organisation, or lead transformation initiatives, they benefit from ESCP’s strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, hands-on learning opportunities, and access to a diverse network of entrepreneurs, alumni, and industry experts across Europe.
We also place great importance on fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment. The MBA offers a “Women in Leadership” Scholarship, while the ESCP Women in Leadership Society – founded by MBA alumni and now led by MBA students and alumni – organises networking events, industry discussions, and mentoring opportunities that empower future leaders, challenge stereotypes, and promote greater gender equality across industries and leadership roles.
